Page 48 of Flirt
Natalie smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay.”
He wasn’t. Nothing about this was even close to okay.
~
Cameron found his sisterwaiting on the porch when he arrived at Asher’s house, her hands clasped together, squeezing so hard her knuckles had turned white.
“Where is he?” Cameron demanded, bounding up the front steps. “Is he okay?”
“He’s in the library.” Her eyes flickered toward the open doors. “He says he’s fine, but…”
“I know.” Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her tight, hoping the contact would help calm him as much as it would her. “Thanks for calling me.”
“Of course, but you should know, he didn’t want me to.”
He’d have been more surprised if it had been the other way around. “You did the right thing,” he assured her. “I’m glad you were here with him.” With a kiss to hertemple, he released her and stepped back. “Go home, Nat. Get some rest. I’ll call you in a little while, okay?”
“Okay. Call me,” she insisted, although he’d just promised he would. “I don’t care what time.”
After promising her again that he would call, he finally managed to convince her to go home. Once she had disappeared down the drive, he hurried into the house and bounded up the stairs to the library.
Every light burned, even the lamps, the amber glow gleaming off the polished bookshelves. Entering slowly, he cast around for Asher, frowning when he didn’t see him. He almost turned to leave, making a mental checklist of other rooms in the house to look in, when he noticed the balcony door standing slightly ajar.
Crossing the room, he jogged up the three carpeted steps that led to the French doors, then paused on the threshold to take a deep breath, steeling himself. Asher probably wouldn’t talk to him about what had happened. He might even try to push him away, maybe tell him to leave. Cameron knew he wouldn’t mean it, and he promised himself that no matter what Asher said, he wouldn’t run.
The sun hung low in the sky, a hazy circle of yellow through the blanket of clouds. The promised rain hadn’t reached the city yet, but it wouldn’t be long now. The temperatures hadn’t cooled much, but he still found Asher sitting on the wicker loveseat with a blanket over his lap.
“Hey,” he said, keeping near the door, afraid Asher would bolt at any sudden movement.
“Hey,” Asher returned, but he continued to stare out over the railing, his eyes wide and unfocused.
“Want some company?”
Asher blinked, and even that much movement seemed to take an extraordinary amount of effort. “Not really.”
Nothing I didn’t expect. “Are you hungry?”
Asher sighed, the sound pained and weary. “This was a mistake,” he said. “I can’t do this anymore.”
If Cameron was being honest with himself, he’d anticipated that as well, but it didn’t make it hurt any less. “Are you hungry?” he tried again, ignoring the ache in his chest. “I can order a pizza.”
Asher finally turned to look at him, his beautiful golden eyes completely devoid of emotion. “I think you should leave.”
Inhaling deeply, Cameron held the breath for a count of three, then released it slowly. “Well, that’s not going to happen. So, pizza? Yes or no?”
“Jesus, you just don’t give up, do you?” His tone didn’t match his words, though. He didn’t sound angry or exasperated. He sounded…hopeful.
“Nope, not when it comes to people I care about.”
“Well, you should.” Settling back against the cushions of the loveseat, he stared out over the balcony again. “Go away, Cameron. I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“Is this a private pity party, or should I be expecting guests?”
Asher finally snapped. “Get out!” he bellowed, his chest heaving with every breath. “I don’t want you here.”
Cameron didn’t flinch. “Fine. I’ll be in the guest room if you need me.”
